[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

You can still be "pure" in a sense and still be a horrible person. There is always the argument in light versus darkness kind of arguments that too much of one is bad, someone who leans towards the light too much can be just as dangerous as someone drenched in the deepest darkness.

But I'm mostly talking about purity when it comes from the whole having a demon living in someone. Holy Live is very much "purifying" Daiji of his demon, which isn't what this series is.

Right, true, 'pure' doesn't necessarily refer to alignment. I often see 'pure' (or 'cinnamon roll', or both) term being used to describe someone heroic, morally upright, with Rider sensibility (so has little to no unheroic traits), like many of the primary Riders. And previously before this episode the talk about Daiji being pure I saw was about him becoming 'too good/heroic' (by recklessly throwing away his life to stop evil) without his evil side Kagerou. But as you said, 'pure' can also mean having a mind free of distractions, unnecessary thoughts, doubts, or fallacies, refering to traits like hard work or determination. A philosophical concept of makoto. And that'd be Daiji being steadfast to save humanity by the easiest way he can think - giving up their freedom while ruthlessly opposing those who stands in his way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enchilada645

And yet he becomes the perfect antagonist for this series. An angelic armored being who seeks order even if it's a false order and won't stand for anything else. Standing against chaotic styled armored beings who seek peace but most importantly above all, Freedom.

I get it why you refer to him as an antagonist here, due to siding more with Akaishi for now, but it seems that for now Daiji and Ikki has standard hostile rivalry that is often done with primary and secondary Riders? (and rivals aren't antagonists in the series despite clashing with MC) Daiji didn't really directly commit evil yet here (he fought enemies in similar manner to Junpei, and tried to rein down Akaishi), just that he now has bleak worldview he forces to others and looks down on hopeful worldview, which is what many secondary Riders often do too. Just that it stands out much more to you here because previously this series has the cooperative type of primary and secondary.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Bad angels have long been more common than good ones. But in my opinion, Daiji's position is still different from the position of most secondary douches. They, as a rule, are driven by selfish motives, when they do not care about everyone except those close to them. And Daiji just ignores his loved ones in order to save more lives. In this regard, he is just closer to the altruistic main Riders, only he is put in a losing position in advance. But of course everything falls apart as Akaishi doesn't even pretend that he and Gif can be merciful to people.

True, many secondaries are about only caring about those close to them (and somehow some audiences equate that into caring for others in general, likely from the good outcome of their actions), but there are various ways to display unheroic qualities other than selfishness. Daiji has altruistic motivation as always, but his unheroic trait now is shown in him being an extremist to accomplish that with doing bad, robbing humanity of their rights (freedom). As Yukimi said good intentions don't matter if you take things too far. Saving lives should be the means, not the end, protecting freedom and happiness is the ultimate good. Actually one of the nastier secondary Riders was an extremist too, Kaito, wanting to free the world from social darwinism (noble cause) by destroying and recreating it (though ofc by then he became anti-villainious and the final boss).